Tweaks coming after Target Field debut

Club working on enhancements for home opener

By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- The Twins' two exhibition games against the Cardinals this weekend at Target Field were considered a success, but general manager Bill Smith said the club is coming up with a list of things to do before the official home opener against the Red Sox on April 12.

"I think the ballpark got great reviews," Smith said. "The playing field got very good reviews from players and coaches. The clubhouse facilities got tremendous reviews. All that said, every department is working on a list of things -- some that have to be done in the next nine days and some things that are more on a wish list for down the road. It was a very successful debut, but now they're working on how we can turn that into a great Opening Day next Monday."

Major League Baseball officials were on hand this past weekend once again to make sure that things were in order at the new ballpark before the start of the regular season. It was one of a few trips they've made to the new park and Smith said the Twins have gotten positive feedback.

"We had some people from Major League Baseball that told us they had not seen any of the new ballparks as well prepared for an Opening Day as we were for these [exhibition] games," Smith said. "They told us that last September when they walked through that they were thrilled with how far along things were. Again, the ballpark was done almost two months early. So that gave us a chance to finish it. A number of people have come in and said, 'When we moved into our ballpark they were still working on it. We didn't have that."

Smith also acknowledged that the Twins specifically sought out the Cardinals for the two exhibition games, citing the draw that the team has in the Upper Midwest.

"We wanted it to be something special," Smith said. "The Cubs and Cardinals are two of the storied franchises in the game. We already play the Brewers every year and the Royals and White Sox are in our division. It wound up being a great fit. We had the two MVPs from last year."

Players try out new road uniforms

ANAHEIM -- Sunday's afternoon workout at Angel Stadium provided the Twins with their first opportunity to try on their new road uniforms.

Gone are the pinstripes and the block "MINNESOTA" on the front of the jerseys.

Now the Twins are wearing solid gray jerseys and pants with a script "Minnesota" on the front of the jersey. There is also a new red pinstripe down the sides of the pants. And the Twins' "M" road caps will now become the secondary road hats, with the "TC" logo now used primarily for road caps.

"They're nice," Denard Span said. "It's definitely a little different not putting on pinstripes on the road. I do like them. It's going to take a while to get used to them, wearing the solid grays instead of the pinstripes. But you figured with a new stadium you've got to change up the uniforms a bit."

Earthquake felt at Angel Stadium

ANAHEIM -- As the Twins took the field for their workout at Angel Stadium on Sunday, the area was shaken by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake centered near the California-Mexico border, and its effects were felt in both the San Diego and Los Angeles areas.

Manager Ron Gardenhire was speaking to the media inside the visiting clubhouse when the ground started to shake, and it took a moment for everyone to realize that it was an earthquake causing the strange rippling effect.

Most of the players, who were on the field, didn't feel the effects of the earthquake. But Gardenhire said it wasn't the first time that the club has experienced an earthquake in Anaheim. One struck, he said, during a previous trip to play the Angels as the club was staying at the Anaheim Doubletree Hotel.

"I woke up in the middle of the night and my hangup bag was swinging," Gardenhire said of the previous earthquake.

Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.